Effective length adjusting means for apparel elements



USTING MEANS FOR APPAREL ELEMENTS T. R. ARDEN April 4, 1939.

EFFECTIVE LENGTH ADJ Filed April 14, 1938 n l l WH Patented Apr. 4, 1939UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EFFECTIVE LENGTH ADJUSTING MEANS FOR APPARELELEMENTS New York Application April 14, 1938, Serial No. 202,083

4 Claims. 01. 2-2s9) This invention relates to apparel, and hasparticular reference to the provision of apparel with means whereby theeffective length of elements such as sleeves, waist bands and the likemay be varied.

Generally speaking, the object of the invention is to embody in asleeve, waist band or the like, a simple,.practical, easily operablemeans to adjust the efiective length thereof and to maintain theadjustment.

A special object of the invention is to provide an effective lengthadjusting means for apparel elements such as mentioned which means iseffective to obtain various different definite and indicated effectivelength adjustments of the apparel elements.

Another special object of the invention is to provide an adjustmentmeans for the purpose stated which is substantially invisible and whichdoes not detract from the appearance of the apparel element in which itis embodied.

Another special object of the invention is to provide an adjustmentmeans for the purpose stated which may readily and easily be embodied inapparel elements at small cost and which is thoroughly reliable andefficient in the performance of its function.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will become morefully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, thesame consists in the novel combination and arrangement of features aswill be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment of theinvention in a shirt sleeve.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the construction illustrated inFig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fi 2; and

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fi 2.

While the invention is illustrated in the drawing as embodied in a shirtsleeve, it will'be understood that this is merely for convenience andfor the purpose of illustrating one utility of the invention, and thatthe shirt sleeve, designated as I0, is representative of any otherapparel element the effective length of which it is desired should bevariable or adjustable.

In accordance with the invention, the sleeve or equivalent apparelelement ID has formed therein at a suitable point a pair of slits II, IIwhich extend transversely relative to said element and are suitablyspaced apart longitudinally thereof. Also in accordance with theinvention, one element I2 of a snap fastener is secured in any suitablemanner to the element l0 at the outer side thereof between and in linewith the slits I l, I I; a tape I3 is provided at spaced pointstherealong with snap fastener elements I4 for cooperation with the snapfastener element 12; said tape is threaded through the slits II, II sothat its end portions are disposed at the inner side of the element Illand a medial portion thereof overlies the outer face of said elementbetween said slits, and at least one end of said tape is fastened to theelement [0 at a point suitably spaced longitudinally of said element l0from the snap fastener element l2 as indicated at 15. The other end ofthe tape may be free or may be fastened with respect to the element I0and, if fastened, it may be fastened to said element ill at any suitablepoint. Preferably, it is fastened and preferably, too, for the sake ofsimplicity and convenience, it is fastened by the same means whichfastens the snap fastener element [2. Moreover, the length of the tapepreferably is greater than the length of the element Ill between the endfastenings of said tape by an amount such that the portion of the tapeadjacent to its second mentioned end always affords a loop I6 for fingerengagement to facilitate adjustment of the effective length of theelement Ill.

Obviously, by drawing the tape l3 through the slits H, H to cause thefirst mentioned end portion of the tape to approach the snap fastenerelement I2, the portion of the element l0 between the first mentionedend portion of the tape and said snap fastener element l2 will becomepleated or gathered and foreshortened, thereby reducing the effectivelength of said element l0, and by engaging any selected snap fastenerelement I4 with the nap fastener element l2, a desired foreshortens orreduced effective length adjustment of the element may be maintained. Inthis connection it is preferred that the snap fastener elements M bespaced apart definite distances along the tape l3 and that said snapfastener elements be provided with suitable means to indicate thedifferent effective lengths of the element II] which are obtained byengagement of the different snap fastener elements M with the snapfastener element 12. Thus, the obtaining of different definite effectivelength adjustments of the element H) is facilitated.

Preferably a strip 1 l is sewed to the element 10 at the inner sidethereof to provide, in conjunction with said element I ii, a pocket tocontain the tape l3, but, as is apparent, the strip I? is not essentialand may be eliminated, if desired.

When the means comprising the invention is applied to a shirt sleeve,said means preferably is applied at the outside of the sleeve where itis not affected by raising or lowering of the arm and where there islittle or no likelihood of the sleeve being placed in sufiicient tensionto cause separation of the snap fastener elements l2, l4.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description considered inconnection with the accompanying drawing, the device may readily andeasily be embodied in apparel elements at small cost and is neat, easyto operate, substantially invisible, does not detract from theappearance of the apparel element and, obviously, will eiiicientlyperform its intended function.

Without further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form,proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An apparel element having a pair of slits extending transverselythereof, a separable fastener element secured to said apparel element atthe outer side thereof between said slits, a flexible element extendingthrough said slits and having its end portions disposed inwardly of saidapparel element and its intermediate portion overlying the apparelelement between said slits, one end of said flexible element beingfastened to the apparel element at a point spaced longitudinally alongthe apparel element from said separable fastener element, and a seriesof separable fastener element carried by said flexible element andspaced therealong for selective cooperation with said first mentionedseparable fastener element.

2. An apparel element as set forth in claim 1 including a commonsecuring means for the first mentioned separable fastener element andthe other end of the flexible element.

3. An apparel element as set forth in claim 1 in which the other end ofthe flexible element is fastened with respect to the apparel element andin which the flexible element is longer than the length of the apparelelement between the fastened ends of said flexible element by an amountsuch that a portion of the flexible element always is available as aloop for finger engagement to facilitate gathering of the material ofthe apparel element along said flexible element.

4. An apparel element as set forth in claim 1 in which a strip isfastened to the apparel element at the inner side thereof and incooperation with said apparel element provides a pocket containing amajor portion of the flexible element.

THOMAS R. ARDEN.

